Avaliação de barreiras flutuantes na retenção de sólidos suspensos

Abstract

Through a simple and objective approach, this work elucidates the behavior of geotextile blankets in the retention of suspended solids. Due to the growing demand for treated water and a considerable deterioration in the quality of water available for collection, it is necessary to increase the dosage of chemicals used in water treatment, influencing not only the costs but also the characteristics of the waste generated in the process, because the nature and quantity of the sludge depend, among other factors, on the turbidity and dosage of coagulant chemicals. The experiment was developed using an acrylic channel where two barriers of geotextile blankets were properly spaced, the raw water from the Parshall channel being pumped into the channel and, after passing through the barriers, returning by gravity to the channel and proceeding to treatment. The affluent flow was maintained at 3.5 l/min and the blankets used had a weight of 170.0 and 420.0 g/m², respectively. The results show that the higher the average input turbidity, the lower the system efficiency. The sludge generation reduction estimate proved to be higher for low values of average turbidity.